Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I wanted to let everyone know Heidi and I have been hard at work on a new website for Mothers On Mission Ministries. We will launch next week. So please forgive me for not being able to post and comment this week! This computer stuff is overwhelming for me!

I did want to leave one thought for today though. One thought that has been tinkering around in my mind.

Question: Am I a customer or a co-worker?

In a sermon I heard, a customer is defined as someone who church shops. A person who looks for what a church can give them rather than what they can offer their church. They are more concerned with etertainment than spreading the Gospel.

A co-worker is defined as someone who spends their week telling people about Jesus. Someone who is available to Jesus-at all times. Someone who constantly looks for their burning bush moment.

As believers, we bond over coffee, we bond over golf, we bond over gatherings, but do we bond over Jesus?

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

I'm traveling home this week, so I'm sharing a post I wrote a little over a year ago...

When I consider my life as a Christian it all comes down to one primary goal… living in complete abandon to Christ.

Sometimes it’s difficult.

For example, giving up in-my-face feelings for His hard facts is challenging. Feelings of the flesh are like a quick moving cancer eating up all logic, reason and truth with in its reach. They cause me to assume, to justify, to consider my rights and to ingest cupfuls of anger and bitterness. They are a very real threat and should be treated as such.

The thing I need to remember when my feelings have imprisoned me is that my escape resides in the facts and the facts are found in the truth. And, inside the truth is the key to my self- made prison.

The key? SURRENDER

My surrendering determines not only how sold out I am for Jesus, but also my love for Him.

That’s big. --That’s really big for all of us girls.

I have questioned why God made us such sensitive souls and all I can conclude is that He did it so we would continually draw near to Him. I desperately need Him to sort out my unruly feelings, to calm me in the midst of them, to direct me away from them and to especially guard my heart from them. My emotions require vigilant micro-management and that has me surrendering to Him nearly every moment. Its work, but it’s worth it because it’s a place where I can find His best for me.

Surrender is essential. It’s radiation therapy for feelings run awry. It’s a conscious practice of breathing out untruth and breathing in the sweetness of Jesus…

When I am gripped with fear and it begins to pull me under… Lord, I surrender.

When I am angry and raging like loud thunder… Lord, I surrender.

When I am weak and my faith begins to waver… Lord, I surrender.

When I am filled with envy that alters my behavior… Lord, I surrender.

When I taste the bitterness seeping in, trying to take over… Lord, I surrender.

When I am full with pride thinking I deserve better… Lord, I surrender.

When I am consumed with myself and dwelling on my failure… Lord, I surrender.

When I doubt I am your treasure… Lord, I surrender.

These soft whispers of surrender allow my world to come to a quiet hush, slowing it down to a steady halt. My muddled up mind clears for just long enough to experience God supernaturally syncing up my feelings with His facts. I am empowered. I have spiritual clarity. My flesh is silenced. I am free to follow Him.

Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees;
then I will keep them to the end.

Give me understanding, and I will keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Fear is on my mind lately. It comes in different shapes and sizes and busts onto the scene of our lives for a myriad of positive and negative reasons. But, fear truly is fueled from two power sources… our flesh and God.

Either one or the other motivates us.

I’m a people pleaser. Guilty of thriving on what others think of me. Desperately needing everyone to like me. There are so many reasons… love, significance and security to name a few.

I’m no stranger to fear. And not the Godly kind.

It’s interesting, because fleshly fear can mask itself as Godly fear. We can do the right things, make the right choices and call it Godly fear, but underneath the flesh trembles.

The opposite of fear is confidence. Some people have the problem of too much self-confidence… it, like fear can also mask itself as Godly confidence. But, that’s whole other post.

Fear motivates me.

For example… I struggle with boldness because not only do I not want to cause someone not to like me, but I also don’t want to make someone feel bad or uncomfortable.

Another example… I don’t compete. I’d rather cheer others on for fear of losing… or fear of hurting someone else by winning.

The switch from fear of man and fear of God started a long time ago for me, but it’s a lingering issue. One that surely I will battle all of my days here in this place. The only good thing about it is that it keeps me reaching for Him.

I meditate on these verses…

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Proverbs 9:10

“So we say with confidence… The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid what can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25

“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1-3

“Am I now trying to win approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

Thursday, August 4, 2011

An enthusiastic tug yanks the side of my dress. My daughter’s church-ready curls now fall from the weight of humidity. As we wait, a question sprays out from in between two missing teeth. With a slight yet endearing lisp she asks, “Mommy, who are we waiting for?” I reply, “A friend of mine, a very sweet lady.”

With twinkling light brown eyes she continues, “Do I know her?”

“No sweetie, but mama knows her.” I continue as more explanation is required. “Well, I’ve never actually met her but I know her.”

More questions speed race over her face. “You’ve never met her, but you like her?”

It’s as if time stood still for a moment.

I lift my hand to shade my eyes from a sudden burst of sunlight peeking through the clouds. God interrupts my thoughts. He paints the canvas of my heart with these words,

“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls,” (1 Peter 1:8-9, NLT).

I am so amazed.

The week before I entered the throne room of grace with one simple request. I prayed, “God, help me to see you more clearly this week. God, help me to hear from you daily. God, please inscribe your truth across my heart so that I can know you more today.

Isn’t it amazing when we live with the expectation of seeing God, we will absolutely notice his Holy movement in the midst of the mundane?

I saw God that day waiting in the Michaels Craft Store parking lot. It doesn’t get more “mundane” than that!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

They are personal, intimate, vulnerable prayers erupting from beauty and brokenness. Only the beauty isn’t found in the brokenness but in the One who is doing the mending. One by one every hope, every request, every offering is lifted into the dwelling place of God.

How sweet.

How fragrant.

Oh, how I feel God hovering in this place.

A soft spoken “amen” closes the session. Wetness fills every eye in the room. The most unguarded prayers offered by the most guarded of hearts. These twisted and tangled lives suddenly start to straighten. The mountain they must climb is so verysteep. But praise God they don’t have to climb it alone.

As I turn to leave, one woman literally collapses from the weight of her sin. Sin that ushers her into a dark place only the light of Jesus can penetrate. Others wipe away floods of emotion that have dried along the edges of their cheeks. Some crack a simple smile as God’s perfect plan crystallizes into a focus they’ve never known.

I walk to my car feeling new somehow. Remembering how it felt when God paused for me. How he brought me to himself, held me close, and introduced me to a love-relationship that radically changed my life.

Overwhelmed by grace and emotionally exhausted from a string of beautiful prayers, I climb into my car with empty hands.

No DVD.

No study guide.

I left them for those who hung on every word, just as God instructed.

But even though my hands are empty, my heart is so very full.

God, I can’t wait to see what you’ll do next. Are you living in expectation and anticipation of seeing God right now?

I hope today finds you in absolute awe of God and the blessings he continually showers over you.

Monday, August 1, 2011

“Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy,” (James 1:2, NLT).

Over the past two years, I’ve been blessed to lead a Women’s Recovery Bible Study. Last night, I drove down the same stretch of highway I’ve always driven. I wrapped my car around the same corner I’ve always turned. Only this night seemed different. Something struck a chord deep within my heart.

It was our last session together.

About 20 minutes into the study, I begin to squirm in my fold-out-chair. I become restless. I wonder, could it be God’s nudge?

Oh yes my sweet sisters, it is surely God’s nudge.

God spoke these words directly to my heart, “Give these women your ‘What Happens When Women Say Yes to God,’ DVD and study materials.” In my mind I found myself in a little debate with God.

“Well God, you know I selected this study because I too needed a refresher course. What if I leave the study guide and keep the DVD?”

Once again God responds, “Give these women ALL the materials.”

Ok God, after all I am a woman who is committed to radical obedience. I will do whatever you require. My response is “yes.”

Later in the evening, we conclude our time with the most powerful prayer I’ve ever witnessed. Twenty heavy-hearted women stand and squeeze together in a circle. Some women are completely broken, some slowly recovering, and some still questioning, “Why?”

Every precious head bows in reverent submission to God, the only One who can make all the difference. They stand side by side. One clammy hand clasps another.

Tightly.

Intently.

Some grip tighter than others as their wounds are not yet healed. Some bow their heads with faces so streaked with tears, the wetness puddles on the floor. Some struggle with health issues only a miracle can cure. While others finally realize their sinful lifestyle choices are what separate them from God.

These women stand united before their heavenly daddy. Women who have intentionally chosen to go with God’s flow instead of against it. Women who know this choice won’t always be easy.